Boot or shoe



April ze, 1927. 1,626,425`

J. B. PIOTROWSKI BOOT OR -SHOE Filed Feb. 18. 192e `PatentednApr` 26, 19,227. i

UNITED STATES" JOHN B. rroraowsxr, orv C'Hrr'rrniva FALLS, WISCONSIN.

13001` on sHofE.

Application filed February 1.8, 1926. Serial No. 89,123;

The present invention relates to improve-I ments in boot or shoe constructions and it has for its primary object to providel a novel form of toe box and cap, so shaped and arranged as to constitute an efficient protection against injury to the toes when worn by those engaged in such hazardous employment as mining and steel or quarry works.

I am aware that .it has been'proposed heretofore to employ metal guards which are applied to the exterior of the shoe as protectors, but these have decided disadvantages; first.

' they destroy the normal appearance ot' the footwear' and make it difficult to give to the. shoe a proper or comfortable shape; and, secondly, they are lacking in the resilience -which is desirable vto permit the portion which receives a blow or impact to resume its normal shape.

My aim therefore has been to provide a' specialtoe 'box which extends con'ipletely around the region ofr the toes by virtue of the formation of a wing extension for the outer side of the shoe but without materially interfering with the flexure of the shoe or destroying the natural appearance thereof, and incorporating this in the shoe construction in the usual manner. By the'use of material in this box having a. certain degree of resiliency, very heavy impacts may be`withstood without breaking down the shape, while at the same time affording adequate protection for the toes of the wearer.

Other and fm'ther-objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

Inthe drawing:

Figure l is a perspective viewfof a shoe embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof; i v

F ignre 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;' and Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View o n lthe line 4 4 of Figure 2. j

Like reference characters designate vcorresponding parts throughout the several iigures of the drawing.

I have shown this invention as applied to the blucher type of shoe, but it is to be clearly understood that the construction is equally applicable to other types of footwear. y

In the illustration, 1 designates the 'vamp, .2 the toe box, and 3 the cap. These are attached to the insole 4 in the well known manner by the stitching 5. The box, 'and the cap'prcferably, are provided with wing extensions 2 and 3, resl'iectively, for the outside of the shoe only. That is to say, the box and cap extend from a point in advance' of the base of the toe at theinside to or `slightly beyond the little toe atv the outside. The complete zone of the `-toes, substantially speaking, is therefore given a rigid protector without destroying the general appearance of the shoe or interfering to any great extent with the flexing of the Shoe v during walking.

cI consider it of importance to employ heavy -'leather as the material for this box, because of its ability to withstand heavy impacts'and the desirable characteristic tendency to resume its normal shape after receivingsuch. Of lcourse I may employ other materials which have these advantages and I do not wish, therefore, vto be unnecessarily -l'cstrictedas regards this feature.

Having thiis described my invention,\\hat I claim as new and desire to secure by ,Letters Patent is: A

1.. A shoe of the class described col'npiising a toe box composed ofresilient material of suflicient rigidity to withstand substantial impacts andc extending across the top of the shoe above the region of the toesat the toe portion of the shoe in substantially spacedrelation to the foot opening thereof so as to leave. an intermediate `free iexing zone for the toes, said box having a rearward exten-u sion toward the shank covering the top and sides vof the toes at the outside'of the foot. 2L Ashoe of the classdescribed comprising an approximately rigid'toe'box extending from a point proximate the base ofthe great toe at the inside transversely of the i top of the shoe to substantially its mid-width' y and thence rearwardly toa pointbeyond the 100 base of the little toe at the outside' ofand above said v, toe, and atoe cap conforming to the shape o f the toe box so as tocover the l\ Sallie.

In testimony whereof I affix-my signature.

i JOHN B. IIOTROWSKI. 

